Meet our founder
Founder. Dancer. Dreamer.
Genevieve Custer Weeks grew up dancing to music in her family’s living room and never stopped. A former professional ballerina turned visionary entrepreneur, she founded Tutu School to reimagine how ballet could nurture creativity, confidence, and joy in even the littlest dancers. Today, she leads a thriving community of boutique ballet studios — all rooted in her belief that dance is for everybody.
Genevieve’s Story
A lifelong love of ballet shaped Genevieve’s journey — and inspired a new kind of dance education.
Living Room Dancer
Genevieve’s earliest performances were choreographed to the sounds of weekend music at home in Madison, Wisconsin.
Chasing the Dream
Childhood dance lessons led into more serious study, and at the age of 15, Genevieve moved to Chicago to train for a career in classical ballet.
Dancing the Dream
A contract with the Oakland Ballet took Genevieve to the San Francisco Bay Area, and the years that followed were filled with adventures on stage, exploring beautiful roles and choreography.
From Performer to Teacher
While dancing professionally, Genevieve began teaching preschool dancers — and discovered that it connected what she believed in the most about ballet with a real need.
A Missing Piece
She noticed that introductory dance education was often overlooked and lacked lacking intention and imagination in existing programs – despite being a milestone moment for so many children.
An Idea Takes Shape
Genevieve began dreaming of a space made just for little ones to fall in love with ballet, and told her husband she thought she wanted to create a boutique ballet school when she retired from performing. He asked, “Why wait?” And Tutu School was born.
Our first location
In 2008, Genevieve opened the doors to the very first Tutu School in San Francisco. With a carefully curated curriculum, classical music filling the air, and a mission to nurture joy and creativity, it was instantly clear: this wasn’t just another ballet school — it was something magical.
That single studio quickly became a beloved local fixture, and before long, others began asking how they could bring the same experience to their communities. What began as one small studio has since grown into a vibrant international network — still grounded in the heart of Genevieve’s original vision.
“Throughout my years as a professional ballet dancer, this school was always a dream of mine… A quaint boutique of a ballet school exclusively for very young children – a place where students would be urged to fully exercise their imaginations as well as their bodies.”
About
Why we started Tutu School
To Make Space for Creativity
Ballet should feel beautiful — not intimidating. Tutu School invites children of all backgrounds and abilities to discover the joy of dance in an inclusive, encouraging environment.
To Honor Early Childhood
Tutu School was founded on the belief that every child deserves to feel welcome in the studio, at the barre, and on the stage, no matter what.
To Offer a Gentler First Step
Many dance programs become too rigid, too quickly. Tutu School offers an imaginative, welcoming path that centers and celebrates a love of ballet.
Find your location
Our ballet school proudly offers classes at multiple locations across the United States and internationally, bringing the joy of dance to students around the globe.
Find Your Location